were still turning

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "were still turning" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an ongoing action in the past, often in a narrative context. Example: "As the sun began to set, the leaves on the trees were still turning in the gentle breeze."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

25 human-written examples

His tires were still turning.

The New York Times

But the foreclosure wheels were still turning, she told Ms. Seymore, and she feared they could not be stopped.

The New York Times

Harassed and spied upon, they were still turning out novels and plays 'for the drawer' or for smuggling abroad.

The Guardian

It was difficult to assess the claims and counterclaims, because Israeli forces were still turning journalists away from Jenin today.

The New York Times

In the second week of July she returned to the hospital, where the doctor treating her, Santosh Kumar Tandon, said cases like Mrs. Bee's were still turning up.

The New York Times

Between 1941 and 1945, no matter what else was going on in the world, the wheels of death were still turning.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

35 human-written examples

This time, Edwards's eyes were still turned upfield.

The New York Times - Sports

Even so, hundreds were still turned away by police who judged the jam-packed theatre to be a hazard.

The Guardian

That traditional utilities were all designed around trying to meet a late afternoon peak, generally when businesses were still turned on and people began to home.

Cornell University

My wine-free world is still turning.

Independent

We're still turning over the stones".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "were still turning" to vividly describe an ongoing process or action in the past, highlighting its persistence despite other circumstances. For example, "Even after the storm, the windmills were still turning, generating power."

Common error

Avoid shifting tenses when using "were still turning". Ensure that the surrounding sentences maintain a consistent past tense to avoid confusion. Instead of saying "The machine were still turning, and now it stops", use "The machine were still turning, and then it stopped".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were still turning" functions as a past continuous verb phrase, indicating an action that was in progress at a specific time in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and usable nature in English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "were still turning" is a grammatically sound and common phrase used to describe an action that was continuously happening in the past. As Ludwig AI states, it's correct and usable in English. Predominantly found in "News & Media" contexts, it effectively conveys ongoing processes and persistence. To ensure clear and correct usage, maintain tense consistency and use the phrase to vividly depict past continuous actions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were yet revolving

Replaces "turning" with "revolving", suggesting a circular or rotational motion that was ongoing.

were ceaselessly rotating

Highlights the uninterrupted and continuous nature of the rotation.

were continuously diverting

Similar to "were constantly diverting", emphasizing the uninterrupted nature of the diversion.

were consistently redirecting

Emphasizes the act of changing direction repeatedly and reliably.

were constantly diverting

Substitutes "turning" with "diverting", implying a continuous change of direction or focus.

were gradually shifting

Suggests a slow, continuous change in position or state.

were persistently veering

Implies a continuous, often slight, change in direction.

remained in motion

Replaces the entire phrase with a more general description of ongoing movement.

were steadily evolving

Shifts the focus to gradual development or change over time.

were continually transforming

Emphasizes the ongoing process of changing form or appearance.

FAQs

How can I use "were still turning" in a sentence?

The phrase "were still turning" indicates an action that continued happening in the past. For example, "Even after the power outage, some of the generators were still turning".

What are some alternatives to "were still turning"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "remained in motion", "were yet revolving", or "continued to rotate".

Is it correct to say "was still turning" instead of "were still turning"?

No, "was still turning" is for singular subjects while "were still turning" is for plural subjects. For example, "The wheel was still turning" (singular) versus "The wheels were still turning" (plural).

What's the difference between "were still turning" and "are still turning"?

"Were still turning" describes a past continuous action, while "are still turning" describes a present continuous action. For example, "Yesterday, the pages were still turning" (past) versus "Today, the pages are still turning" (present).